Soon after the discovery, the provincial Veterinary Bureau to coordinate with the Ha Hoa district has directed the branches and localities in the district implement zoning measures, stamping services; advocating people not to panic, do not hide translation and guide the farmers to take measures to disinfect, disinfection, quarantine sick birds, dead bird disposal.

The Department has issued a mask, gloves, protective clothing and to make 48 liters HanIodine disinfection in the commune.

Accordingly, the Department has granted 436 liters of pasteurized issued 7,000 leaflets against avian influenza, 400 masks, 600 pairs of gloves and other supplies and equipment to prevent spread wide.

Thus, so far not arisen of dead poultry, the outbreak has been basically controlled.
Thus, to end on 19-7 Ha Hoa district had 2,340 sick birds. In particular, in the commune of the past two model tests on dead poultry were positive for avian influenza virus serotype H5.

The Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of supply (charge) 5,000 liters of chemical germicides Benkocid national inventory of Phu Tho province to support prevention and control avian influenza A / H5N1. The level of management, use of pesticides above comply with current regulations. Earlier, on 21 / 7, Phu Tho province announced bird flu in the area 2 of communal and the Ha Hoa Minh Coi district with more than 2,400 sick birds.

(Newscore) - Pharmaceutical giant CSL has blamed a world-first blending of flu virus strains as the likely cause of fits in children immunized with its fluvaccine last year, The Australian reported Saturday.

CSL followed World Health Organization recommendations when it concocted its controversial Fluvax vaccine, which combined swine flu with two seasonal strains of influenza for the first time.

The vaccine has been banned for children under five in Australia, Europe and the US since it triggered convulsions in one out of every 100 children immunized in Australia last autumn.

CSL Friday revealed a breakthrough in its 18-month scientific investigation, which involves the federal government's Therapeutic Goods Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It said the interim findings pointed to a problem with how the three virus strains interacted.

"Our scientific studies indicate that the interaction between the particular virus strains used in the 2010 ... vaccine contributed to the reactions, but we are still working to understand the how and why," a CSL spokeswoman told The Australian.

"We have completed comprehensive investigations into our manufacturing operations [which] have not identified any change or deviation in our standard registered manufacturing process that could have contributed to the increased reactions."

America's Food and Drug Administration warned CSL in June that it could revoke its American license over what it described as manufacturing deficiencies and an inadequate investigation into the cause of last year's febrile fits.

According to the Veterinary Department of Quang Tri province, bird flu broke out again in a few localities in the province, with total poultry population is infected 11,750 children, which has destroyed more than 10,000 children. The provincial Veterinary Bureau is directing the district veterinary stations focus on implementing the preventive measures, determined not to spread disease on a large scale. Since the beginning of August to now, the provincial Veterinary Bureau has vaccinated more than 125,000 doses of flu vaccine for poultry in the area of ​​the district has a high risk of recurrence of epidemic.

Latest in parliament is the debate whether bats contain the bird flu virus which could spread in the humans.

The issue was raised in parliament by an independent member Burnett Rob Messenger during question hour round, in which he asked this question from Health Minister when he got the news of bird flu infection in Cambodia.

Health Minister did not reply there and then and has taken 30 days time in which he would do the research to give answer to Mr. Messenger. Issue is of concern as few days ago only FAO has warned countries against the comeback of avian flu which has become stronger due to the presence of resistant strain. This strain is immune to the existing vaccines in the market available for the flu.

If the report comes out positive then it could be a big problem as already these flying foxes have created havoc due to hendra virus spread. It is said that not hendra virus but flying foxes are host to many other serious infections like SARS, Nipah and Lyssa. So, if bird flu gets added to the list then it should soon be revealed to the public so precautionary measures could be taken up against it, rather than keeping this news under covers due to political benefits.

Soon after the discovery, the provincial Veterinary Bureau to coordinate with the Ha Hoa district has directed the branches and localities in the district implement zoning measures, stamping services; advocating people not to panic, do not hide translation and guide the farmers to take measures to disinfect, disinfection, quarantine sick birds, dead bird disposal.

The Department has issued a mask, gloves, protective clothing and to make 48 liters HanIodine disinfection in the commune.

Accordingly, the Department has granted 436 liters of pasteurized issued 7,000 leaflets against avian influenza, 400 masks, 600 pairs of gloves and other supplies and equipment to prevent spread wide.

Thus, so far not arisen of dead poultry, the outbreak has been basically controlled.
Thus, to end on 19-7 Ha Hoa district had 2,340 sick birds. In particular, in the commune of the past two model tests on dead poultry were positive for avian influenza virus serotype H5.

Mr. Nguyen Tat Thanh, director of the provincial Veterinary Bureau, said all the birds died and were in fact destroyed the head will be supported 23,000 VND / child in accordance with the Government.

Provincial Agriculture has established the working group made prevention and suppression avian influenza H5N1 in a commune of the order not to limit the spread of epidemics on a large scale.

The two children had no contact with each other. Each caught the new flu in separate transmission events. The boy's case was reported on Aug. 17; the girl's on Aug. 24.

"We have been able to detect a novel flu virus," CDC spokesman Tom Skinner tells WebMD. "It is an H3N2 swine flu virus that has picked up a gene from 2009 H1N1. We are investigating whether human-to-human spread is occurring."

Human-to-human spread appears possible, as the boy seems to have been infected by a caretaker who had contact with pigs. But so far there's no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread. A preliminary investigation in Indiana found no spread of the virus beyond the infected boy.

This is far from the first time humans may have caught swine flu viruses directly from pigs. The CDC knows of 21 cases from December 2005 to December 2010.

But it's the first time the 2009 swine flu virus currently circulating in humans has recombined with an older swine flu bug. The new flu is a reassortment in which the old swine H3N2 virus incorporates a single structural gene from the 2009 H1N1 virus, says CDC virologist Mike Shaw, PhD.

This 2009 H1N1 gene is unlikely to make the bug cause more severe disease or to make it more easy to catch, he tells WebMD.

Preventing Swine Flu

Pigs actually got the H3N2 virus from humans. It's the flu bug that caused human disease in the 1990s.

Because the "H" and "N" components of flu bugs stimulate immune responses, many adults may already have at least partial immunity to the new H3N2 swine flu.

Not so for children. Both of the kids who came down with the new bug were under 5 years of age.

Both kids got their flu shots last September -- but it did not protect them against the new swine flu. The CDC confirms that the current flu shot is not expected to protect against the new virus.

While human spread doesn't yet seem to be happening, the CDC is on high alert. It's not yet flu season, but it is state fair season.

Shaw warns that people who come into contact with pigs -- particularly children -- may be susceptible to the new bug. People especially susceptible to flu -- including very young kids, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with suppressed immune systems -- should avoid contact with swine.

Why? If pigs in Pennsylvania and Indiana are infected, it's likely that pigs across North America are carrying the new flu bug.

"It is almost like the entire swine population in North America is one big herd," Shaw says. "That is because of movement the animals at many stages of production from breeding to slaughter."

Friday, September 2, 2011

Sep 2, 2011 (CIDRAP News) – In separate instances, influenza A/H3N2 viruses circulating in swine picked up a gene from the pandemic 2009 H1N1 virus and recently infected two young children, one in Indiana and one in Pennsylvania, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

Both of the children recovered, though one was briefly hospitalized, and there is no sign that the viruses spread from the children to others, but any evidence of ongoing transmission would require a rapid response, the CDC said.

The agency also said one of the children had no direct contact with pigs, which suggests he caught it from another person. Both children are under age 5.

The two viruses are similar to eight other swine-origin H3N2 viruses found in humans in the past 2 years, but they are unique in that they contain the matrix (M) gene from the 2009 H1N1 virus, the CDC reported in an early online posting in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The two viruses are similar but not identical.

"I don't think these [viruses] have pandemic potential; it looks like both of these are sort of dead-end transmissions," Dr. Lyn Finelli, chief of the surveillance and outbreak response team in the CDC's influenza division, told CIDRAP News.

But she also commented, "One of the reasons we publish this data is that reassortment happens in swine viruses and in humans, so we always want to have surveillance in place so we can detect the next emerging reassortant. Viruses like these do have pandemic potential."

Though no further cases have been found, the report says, "If additional chains of transmission are identified rapid intervention is warranted [to] try to prevent further spread of the virus."

Case detailsThe first case involved an Indiana boy who got sick with a fever, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and..

We reported on this situation a few days ago. You can find the articlehere.

Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 26) announced results of the regular influenza virus surveillance programme on pigs conducted by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) for May to July at the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse. Among some 1,300 samples tested, no human swine influenza virus (pandemic H1N1) was detected. However, 16 samples taken in June and July were found to contain a virus that was essentially a swine influenza H3N2 virus but had picked up some genes of human swine influenza virus.

Sep 2, 2011 (CIDRAP News) – In separate instances, influenza A/H3N2 viruses circulating in swine picked up a gene from the pandemic 2009 H1N1 virus and recently infected two young children, one in Indiana and one in Pennsylvania, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

Both of the children recovered, though one was briefly hospitalized, and there is no sign that the viruses spread from the children to others, but any evidence of ongoing transmission would require a rapid response, the CDC said.

The agency also said one of the children had no direct contact with pigs, which suggests he caught it from another person. Both children are under age 5.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 2, 2011) - As wild birds begin their fall migration, Canada's seventh annual Inter-Agency Wild Bird Influenza Survey is underway. The survey is part of global efforts advocated by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to detect highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses that could threaten the agricultural sector and human health.

"The wild bird survey is an important part of Canada's avian influenza prevention and preparedness biosecurity strategy," said Dr. Brian Evans, Canada's Chief Veterinary Officer. "It's an early warning system designed to detect highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses such as the Eurasian strain of H5N1. To date this highly pathogenic H5N1 strain has never been found in Canada."

Earlier this week the OIE and the FAO noted the emergence of a new strain of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. While the OIE said that the genetic mutation is not an immediate cause for alert, both organizations recommended sustained monitoring of avian influenza viruses.

Canada's wild bird survey is carried out by the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre on behalf of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Environment Canada, as well as provincial and territorial government partners and the US government.

If the survey were to detect a highly pathogenic virus in wild birds, the CFIA would alert producers in the area and conduct heightened surveillance in domestic poultry. The CFIA routinely monitors for avian influenza viruses in commercial flocks.

The survey includes testing of wild birds found dead, which is designed to detect highly pathogenic influenza viruses in the wild. The goal for 2011–2012 is to sample at least 3000 dead wild birds across Canada.

Anyone who finds a dead wild bird should contact the Canadian Cooperative Wild Life Health Centre at 1-866-544-4744 or visit the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre website at www.ccwhc.ca.

The survey also includes a live bird component intended to track the viruses circulating in the wild bird population, as well as the genetic changes and exchanges that occur in these viruses over multiple years. This year's survey will sample approximately 600 live ducks in the Prairies, and approximately 2000 in Quebec, Nunavut and the Maritime provinces.

Recent media coverage stemming from a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) press release has contained misleading information about highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses (“H5N1”) in Asia. Some of that media coverage has implied that there is a new, mutant variant H5N1 virus that is spreading in Asia, and that the risk to human health posed by this H5N1 virus has somehow been recently and dramatically raised. This is not true.

Highly pathogenic (deadly) avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infections in poultry and wild birds, resulting in high mortality, have been detected in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa since December of 2003. Currently, H5N1 viruses are widespread in poultry and wild birds in many countries in Asia, but rarely infect humans. When humans become ill with H5N1 virus infection, severe illness and death may occur. Sporadic human cases mainly occur after contact with infected poultry that were sick or dead, and have been reported in 15 countries. Like all influenza viruses, H5N1 viruses continue to evolve. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conduct routine surveillance to monitor influenza viruses, including H5N1 viruses, for changes that may have implications for animal and public health. CDC and WHO surveillance efforts are geared toward human health. FAO and OIE are concerned with issues affecting food and agriculture.

Over time, H5N1 viruses have evolved into different groups, called “clades.” Since 2007, 12 different clades of H5N1 viruses have been identified. The FAO report and subsequent media stories focused on an H5N1 virus that has been given a nomenclature (name) of “clade 2.3.2.1”. However, this virus is not new. It was first detected in poultry during 2009 in Vietnam and evolved from viruses that had previously been circulating in Vietnam since 2005.

CDC has been watching the evolution of all H5N1 viruses closely. Changes in viruses that WHO and CDC look for specifically are those that could increase the threat to human health. There is nothing to indicate that clade 2.3.2.1 viruses pose any greater threat to human health than any of the other H5N1 viruses. The clade 2.3.2.1 viruses are very active viruses and are spreading more widely in poultry and wild birds. While this increases the possibility of human exposures to infected birds or poultry, it does not increase their ability to infect and transmit between people. However, as part of the U.S. government’s pandemic preparedness activities, a 2.3.2.1 vaccine virus candidate to protect humans against this virus already has been created so that vaccine production could begin rapidly if this virus were to change to infect humans and spread easily from person to person. The vaccine virus candidate is an exact match to currently circulating 2.3.2.1 viruses.

CDC does not believe the risk from H5N1 to humans has increased; however, the evolution of H5N1 viruses has implications for the poultry industry in parts of the world where H5N1 viruses are widespread among poultry. In many of these countries, poultry is routinely vaccinated to protect against infection with H5N1 viruses, which is frequently deadly to them. Vaccination of poultry against avian influenza viruses is a tool used to protect a food asset. The FAO report was drawing attention to the fact that the H5N1 poultry vaccines currently being used in Vietnam do not protect poultry against the new H5N1 clades. This is because the viruses have evolved since the H5N1 poultry vaccine viruses were chosen in 1996. While this development highlights the importance of updating the antigen composition of all influenza vaccines, it does not have any bearing on the issue of protecting humans from this virus.

In summary, H5N1 influenza viruses have been circulating among birds for many years, some are highly pathogenic, and infections in humans are uncommon. There have been no recent changes that pose any additional risk to humans.

KUWAIT
CITY, Sept 1: The Ministry of Health has allayed fears of the possible
spread of a new strain of bird flu in Kuwait, reports Al-Anba daily
quoting sources.
Confirming the ministry closely monitors developments related to the
virus in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), sources
said the Kuwaiti missions abroad are following up events in countries
where some cases have been discovered. Sources disclosed the ministry is
working with all the concerned authorities to prevent the spread of the
virus in the country, adding the Public Authority for Agriculture
Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has been instructed to thoroughly
check all the birds and livestock entering Kuwait to ensure they are not
infected with the virus.
It has been reported that a new strain of the virus recently spread in
Vietnam, while other countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Japan
and some parts of Korea are at risk.

1 September 2011
The ostrich industry has been faced with an export ban on ostrich
meat due to Avian Influenza since April this year, with losses amounting
to R108 million per month. Forced slaughtering is required by
international law on farms testing positive for the virus. To date, more
than 33 000 birds have been culled in the greater Oudtshoorn area.

National Government compensated farmers for culled birds to the tune
of R33 million, but on Friday (26/08) it came to light that no more
money will be forthcoming from the National Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry. Many farmers have already culled on the
assumption that they will be compensated, and farmers who were in line
to cull resisted when they learned that there was a R17 million
shortfall in compensation funds.

The Western Cape Government Economic and Infrastructure Strategic
Committee and Budget Policy Committee, chaired by Minister Alan Winde,
held emergency meetings this week and recommended that the R17 million
be allocated from a provincial contingency fund. This recommendation was
yesterday (31/08) approved by Cabinet.

The cause of the mass deaths of birds in lake Tagar, Minusinsk
District of Krasnoyarsk, is to be investigated. On the shores of the
lake, more than 100 wild ducks have been found dead. Sick birds were
seen as well.

Specialists of Rosselkhoznadzor are investigating the event, putting
the lake under a monitoring regime and collecting samples to determine
the causes of illness and death of the birds.

This is not the 1st such incident at the lake. In September 2010, more
than 500 birds died there.

[2 September 2011]Vietnam has been struck by the foot-and-mouth disease again. It has emerged in two provinces, affecting hundreds of cattle and pigs. The disease was detected in nine villages of Luc Yen district in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai and in Son Tinh district in the central province of Quang Ngai. Earlier, local authorities launched a vaccination program to protect livestock, but due to insufficient volume of vaccine doses, a large number of animals were not immunized. Meanwhile, bird flu was reported to afflict poultry in Quang Ngai province.

PIA Press Release
Friday, September 02, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, September 2 (PIA) -– An alert to all entry ports against the entry of wild birds infected with the deadly avian flu disease was recently issued by Regional Executive Director Rogelio T. Trinidad of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In his directive, Trinidad instructed his field officers to “closely coordinate with other government agencies and local government units to monitor all entry ports” to make sure that no exotic birds and other wildlife are illegally transported from bird flue infected countries.

The alert issued comes in the heels of a heightened alert issued by the UN Food and

Agricultural Organization against a deadlier strain of avian flu virus, Ms. Purification Daloos, OIC Public Affairs Office said in a report.

On Monday, the UN warned of a possible resurgence of the deadly bird flu virus, saying that wild bird migration could have brought back the virus (H5N1) to the previously virus free areas and that a mutant strain was spreading in Asia.

In order to prevent any breakout of the avian flu disease in the Region, Trinidad has ordered enhanced surveillance of the seaports in Liloan, Southern Leyte for entry from Mindanao and in Allen, Northern Samar to prevent the entry from Luzon of any wilds birds suspected to be infested with the bird flu.

The attention of the Wildlife Enforcement Officers from partner agencies was also called for them to assist the DENR in the monitoring and surveillance of all entry points.

The Regional Executive Director called on the public to be vigilant and to help keep Region 8 bird flu free.

The public is advised not to buy, touch, hunt, kill or eat migratory birds and other wildlife as they may be carriers of bird flu.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

On 1 / 9, HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said the hospital being treated for boys QPH 9 years old (live District 6, HCMC) influenza A/H1N1.

Previous three days, patients breathe tired, cough, high fever, signs of respiratory distress and was transferred to a hospital emergency department. Patients hospitalized in a state of dyspnea, cyanosis, severe respiratory distress, lung injury, the number of leukocytes in the blood lower. The doctors advised, people should not subjective to H1N1 because the initial symptoms of the disease is quite similar to common respiratory diseases.

09/01/2011
MANILA, Philippines - There are no plans yet to release a travel advisory to China and Vietnam amid the new avian flu virus scare.

Eric Tayag, chief of the Department of Health’s National Epidemiology Center, said only those who have been exposed to livestock infected with the mutant H5N1 virus are the only ones prone to get the disease.

As such, President Benigno Aquino III and his entourage do not need to undergo quarantine since they will not be exposed to poultry.

Aquino is in China for a state visit. He will be back on Saturday.

Tayag noted the Philippines is now on its 8th year of being bird flu-free.

Still, the thermal screenings in airports are always activated for flu monitoring for any disease, not only on bird flu.

He reiterated that there is an animal-to-human transmission of the virus so far. There is no case yet of person-to-person transmission.

If ever a person gets infected of the disease, he cannot transfer it to another person.

The H5N1 virus is deadlier than the original H1N1 virus and even dengue. In a span of only two days, a patient can die of the disease, according to experts. – By Sol Aragones, ABS-CBN News

2011-09-01
BEIJING - China faces a tough challenge if it wants to curb a regional outbreak of bird flu in the coming autumn and winter, said the nation's top veterinarian Yu Kangzhen on Wednesday.

The chance for a large-scale outbreak, however, remains quite slim, he said.

Yu made the remarks following a warning from the United Nations of a possible return of the deadly avian influenza epidemic, as a mutation of the H5N1 strain that can apparently sidestep defenses of existing vaccines was spreading in China and Vietnam.

"Since February 2009, China has reported zero bird flu outbreaks and the agriculture and health authorities are constantly on high alert of potential bird flu epidemics among poultry and humans," he told China Daily in a written statement.

But the virus has been detected sporadically among wild birds and in certain areas among farmed poultry, he admitted. "Also, mutations of the virus have been detected in the poultry."

In response, the Ministry of Agriculture ordered further heightened surveillance of the potentially deadly virus and made plans in the event of outbreaks, he said.

Since 2004, China has seen 50 cases of bird flu involving poultry on the mainland, with 31 in 2005 alone, official statistics show.

Authorities have set up a comprehensive mechanism to contain the virus, combining mass vaccination of poultry and timely culling of the infected.

"Based on results from surveillance, poultry on the mainland is basically safe from bird flu infections," Yu said.

So far this year, nearly 2.5 million samples have been tested for the virus and a mass vaccination against the virus will soon kick off on poultry farms nationwide, he added.

As precautions, quarantine efforts, particularly on the borders, will be further beefed up to avert any imported cases, he said.

Previously, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said bird migrations over the past two years had brought H5N1 to countries that had been virus-free for several years, including Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, Nepal and Mongolia.

Shu Yuelong, director of the National Influenza Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told China Daily that the virus actually has been constantly mutating among poultry.

"But so far no evidence has showed that the mutant strains could jump easier from birds to humans," he said.

"The possibility of major outbreaks of human bird flu can be basically ruled out and there is no need to worry," he added.

Since 2003, H5N1 has infected 565 people worldwide, killing 331, according to the World Health Organization. A 6-year-old Cambodian girl died on Aug 14 from bird flu, the eighth person to die from H5N1 avian influenza this year in the country.

[It seems they are preparing 60 million doses of a vaccine that doesn't work again the new strain. The new mutant strain is not yet in the South of Vietnam]

Enter the 60 million doses of flu vaccine for poultry vaccination phase twoWednesday, 31/08/2011
Excerpt:
* Peace replicate this model according to the Safety Department of Animal Health Disease, bird flu, blue ear disease, foot and mouth disease (FMD) has been basically controlled the whole country. However, in the last two weeks, has generated a new epidemic in Nghe An and Quang Tri in FMD appeared of Nghe An and Quang Ngai. The risk of disease outbreaks in livestock and poultry is very high in the near future.

For prevention and control, Veterinary Department continued to coordinate bird flu vaccine for the southern province of vaccination. Up to now, has provided 45 million doses of 50 million doses of H5N1 vaccine-Re5 imported and prepare import 60 million doses of vaccine for bird flu vaccination drive in two southern provinces.http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=vi&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dc%25C3%25BAm%2Bgia%2Bc%25E1%25BA%25A7m%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DHWk%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%253Aen-US%253Aofficial%26num%3D10%26lr%3D%26ft%3Di%26cr%3D%26safe%3Dimages%26tbs%3D%2Cqdr%3Ad

From our July 18th article:

More worryingly, the experimental results of the Veterinary Department of the validity of the H5N1 vaccine-Re5 shows the effect of protection against new virus is very low branches, almost no effect. The bird flu vaccine used in our country mainly imports, which, mostly from China. To prevent avian influenza virus clade 2.3.2 This new branch, at present, China is studying the H5N1 vaccine-Re6, but so far no experimental results.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

2011-09-01 07:51
(Vietnam News ‧ Hanoi on the 31st) the Director of the disease in Vietnam Weisheng Bu Wendeng chess today confirmed the recent poultry in northern Vietnam found the virus variants.

He said, especially in the province of Phu Tho, experts have found more virulent new virus H5N1-2.3.2.1, Vietnam Veterinary Bureau is the ability to test new anti-drug vaccine, if fully implemented and effective on the play.

‧Phu Tho Province, about 60 kilometers from the capital, Hanoi.

..
He said that as southern China and northern Vietnam, frequent interaction, so these two areas of FAO will issue a warning; He stressed that there is no threat found in Thailand, Korea and Japan, the trend, but still close observation.

More likely fatal?
The more notice missed WHO

For the H5N1 avian influenza virus mutants emerged in Vietnam, the Vietnamese Vice Minister Cheng Weisheng Bu military said that at present have not received the World Health Organization (WHO) official notice that the mutant virus than the original virus more lethal to humans .

Feijia strong warning against the invasion

As the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus strain variants there are signs of the spread in Asia, the Philippine government has been on alert to prevent bird flu virus invasion of the Philippines.

Waldorf in the Philippines Presidential deputy spokesman said Wednesday, the Philippines has not yet heard the case of H5N1 virus infection cases, but Nongye Bu has increased vigilance, monitoring the movement of the H5N1 virus, while the entry point in the tight checks.

Hong Kong virologist on Tuesday warned that scientists still do not determine whether the human H5N1-2.3.2.1 more lethal, is also no vaccine can be prevented by strict monitoring of all walks of life called bird flu, so as not to spread to humans.

The Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City is going to test dengue fever vaccines at two Mekong Delta’s towns in September, following safe experiments on humans worldwide, the institute chief has said.

Doctor Tran Ngoc Huu, head of the institute and chairman of the research project, told the Tuoi Tre recently that dengue fever has been causing the most deaths and the third highest number of infections among 28 popular infectious diseases in Vietnam.

Figures from the Ministry of Health showed that Vietnam has reported around 30,000 dengue fever infections in Vietnam during the first eight months this year, mostly in the central and southern regions.

Experiment for the vaccine will be done on 1,402 children in Long Xuyen of An Giang Province and 934 in My Tho of Tien Giang Province.

Huu said the participants range in age between two to 14 years old, are healthy and join in the research voluntarily with their parents' agreement.

After the experiment, which is the last stage of the project, the vaccine will be assessed for its effectiveness and the research will be presented to authorities before wide use of the vaccine, he said.

Huu said that the vaccine, currently named as Dengue-CYD, was produced and has been studied for around 20 years by France-based Sanofi Pasteur, which has provided several vaccines being used in Vietnam.

The vaccine has been studied in 13 countries including the US and Australia, and in both infected and uninfected countries, he said.

After trials on animals, experiments on more than 6,200 people between one and 45 years of age have shown that the vaccine is safe and caused similar side effects like other vaccines in use such as swelling, redness and pain at the injection spot, fever and headache, the doctor said.

He also confirmed that the experiment result from each country is only announced after the result has been looked over by the National Council of Ethics on Human Research.

However, Huu said that the vaccine is not used widely in any country yet.

The doctor said Sanofi Pasteur has promised to sell the vaccine to Vietnam’s Ministry of Health at good price.

Hong Kong virologist warned today that no vaccine can prevent the spread of the territory of China and Vietnam is the H5N1 avian influenza virus mutants, and called for strict monitoring of all sectors of bird flu, so as not to spread to humans.

Although scientists are not currently determine whether the virus more lethal to humans, but they say that this mutant and the original virus were sufficiently different to make human use against the original H5N1 virus strain of the vaccine for its failure.

University of Hong Kong's top virologist Peres (Malik Peiris), said: "There are one kind of human H5N1 candidate vaccine, World Health Organization (WHO) recommended, but it can not completely control this mutant, but this situation is not uncommon because the H5 virus constantly changes, and we also need to develop new vaccines to the light. "

FAO said yesterday, H5N1 avian flu new variant is spreading within China and Vietnam, and the current vaccine is clearly unable to control this variation.FAO warned that bird flu may be "massive relapse."

Found that the plague, cholera, avian flu or unexplained disease outbreaks, the hospital must be reported within 2 hours through the network. Guangdong Provincial Health Department recently released "Report of Guangdong Province, health surveillance of infectious diseases" and 5 guidelines, called on all localities to regulate and strengthen supervision of infectious diseases.

Guangdong Province reported infectious diseases in accordance with health supervision guidelines, the relevant departments of medical institutions should have a "department of infectious diseases register."

Found in Group B infectious diseases and pulmonary anthrax, SARS, polio, highly pathogenic avian influenza cases or suspected cases, or find other infectious diseases and unexplained disease outbreaks should be within 2 hours to report infectious disease report cards through the network; no direct reporting responsibility to implement the network reporting unit should be within 2 hours with the fastest means of communication (telephone, fax) to the local county-level disease prevention and control report and sent out within 2 hours of report cards of infectious diseases.

The other B and C class infectious disease patients, and to report the suspected patients of infectious pathogen carrier in the diagnosis, direct reporting responsibility for the implementation of network reporting unit should be reported within 24 hours of the network; no direct reporting responsibility to implement the network reports units should be sent out within 24 hours of report cards of infectious diseases.Responsibility Report and the report were the fastest means of communication units to escalation.Meet public health emergencies should be reported within 2 hours

Hunter New England Health says a drug-resistant mutant strain of swine flu has been detected in the Newcastle region, the largest outbreak reported worldwide.

The World Health Organisation's Collaborating Centre for Influenza in Melbourne found 14 per cent of the flu samples taken from the local region this winter were resistant to the drug Tamiflu, which is used to ease flu symptoms.

However, it appears the virus is not particularly severe, as there were no deaths among the 25 people infected and none were admitted to an intensive care unit.

Public Health physician Doctor Craig Dalton says it is not yet clear why the mutant strain has appeared in the Newcastle region.

"We're looking at the cases and we can't find anything particularly eliminating at this stage," he said.

"These people had not received Tamiflu prior to the collection of the specimen, so that means they didn't get the anti-viral treatment and then develop resistance.

"They'd obviously been infected with a strain that was already resistant to Tamiflu."

Millions of ducks are flying south from Siberia this week, and some are carrying a virus that could lead to a resurgence of H5N1 bird flu in poultry – and people – across Eurasia.

"We're issuing an alert because we expect in the coming weeks to see the virus pop up in unexpected places across a wide area," says Jan Slingenbergh, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's early warning system for animal diseases.

H5N1 has cost poultry farmers an estimated $20 billion so far. It has also infected 565 people, of whom 331 died. Virologists are trying to discover the mutations that could enable H5N1 to spread between people and go pandemic.

Dominant strain

The FAO is concerned about a strain of H5N1, called 2.3.2.1, which has been circulating for several years but is now emerging as dominant in birds in Asia.

It is no more virulent than previous strains but it is well adapted to many wild migratory species, so the virus has been carried to countries where H5N1 had been eliminated from poultry, including Bulgaria, Romania and Israel.

H5N1 outbreaks in poultry peaked in 2006, with 4000 across Eurasia and Africa. Extensive culling and vaccination quelled the virus, and by 2008 there were just 302 outbreaks. With the spread of 2.3.2.1, outbreaks are back on the rise. Some samples of the strain in China and Vietnam show its continuing evolution.

"The more cases you get in birds, the more it might spill over into humans," says Slingenbergh.

Aug 31, 2011 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) took pains today to downplay the significance of a new H5N1 avian influenza variant that another major international organization warned about this week.

In an Aug 29 statement, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said a new H5N1 strain called clade 2.3.2.1 had emerged recently in Vietnam and China and that existing poultry vaccines were ineffective against it. The statement also cited recent increases in H5N1 bird outbreaks and warned about a possible major resurgence of the virus.

The WHO said today that its Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System recognized the H5N1 variant in February. "Based on available information, this evolution of the H5N1 virus poses no increased risk to public health," the WHO statement said. "It is not considered unusual because influenza viruses are constantly evolving, especially in areas where they circulate regularly in poultry."

The agency further said clade 2.3.2.1 does not change the public health implications of H5N1 viruses, given the available information. "Human cases of H5N1 infection remain rare and sporadic events, occurring mostly in areas where H5N1 viruses circulate regularly in poultry," the statement said.

The OIE made similar points in a statement today. It said the emergence of clade 2.3.2.1 is a result of minor genetic changes that typify the natural evolution of the virus.

"This is not immediate cause for alert but, as with the emergence of any new strain, reinforces the need for sustained monitoring of viruses in animal populations so that changes in viruses circulating in the field are detected at an earliest stage and that most appropriate disease control strategies are chosen to best protect animal and public health, the OIE said.

The agency also commented that avian flu vaccines, like human flu vaccines, need to be tested regularly to see if they are effective against the viruses in circulation. The OIE reference laboratory in Harbin, China, has developed a vaccine that, in trials, has protected poultry from clade 2.3.2.1, the statement said. Once available for field use, the vaccine will be employed in countries where the new variant has been identified.

"Registration and manufacturing of a poultry vaccine with the new seed strain is in progress," the OIE said.

Meanwhile, a clade 2.3.2.1 virus caused the illness of a 59-year-old Hong Kong woman who contracted an H5N1 infection last November, probably while traveling in mainland China, according to a report today by The Standard, a Hong Kong newspaper. The story cited Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) as the source of the information.

Hong Kong health officials said at the time that the virus in the woman's case belonged to clade 2.3.2. She recovered from her illness, according to online information from the CHP.

August 31, 2011
It spreads a mutant form of bird flu - UN warnsA known microbiologist Hugh Pennington said that "while there is still no certainty that bird flu has mutated so that it is transmitted from person to person, there is a" reasonable speculation "that has become resistant to Tamiflu, the main drug used in Britain in fighting the virus. "
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August 31, 2011
Food and Agriculture Organization warns bird flu could recur Millions of ducks flying in Siberia this week, and some carry a virus that could lead to the reappearance of H5N1 influenza, or flu, in birds and humans in Eurasia.

"We issue an alert because the next few weeks we expect the appearance of virus in unexpected places across a wide area," said Jan Slingenbergh, head of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
"As more cases occur in birds, much more will be spread to humans," said Slingenbergh.
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01 Sep, 2011
New Delhi: Food and Agriculture Organization (Afao) again Falne bird flu in Asia in the wake of warnings by the government today said that avian influenza is fully prepared to deal with bird flu.

Here,''said an official statement on avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, the new and deadly strain of Mutant Afao report in respect of the warning has come. The government has taken seriously the warning of Afao and is ready for any situation.''

Before the bird flu Afao Falne warned about the possibility. Afao's Chief Veterinary - Medical officer,''said Yuan Lubrath Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Vietnam have the most problems, but no country is safe. ''

August 31, 2011
DA on alert against bird flu-infected productsMANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) today assured that it is already implementing precautionary measures to prevent the entry of the deadly bird flu virus into the Philippines.

DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said in a radio interview that he has ordered the deployment of personnel in points of entry in the country to prevent the transport of infected chicken and other poultry products that may be affected by the deadly H5N1 virus.

Alcala said that he has also alerted the National Meat Inspection Service and the Bureau of Animal Industry.
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08/31/2011
DOH: New bird flu strain deadlierMANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health has warned the public of the threat of a new strain of bird flu virus, the H5N1.

Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, program manager of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, said there are now cases of the new strain in China and Vietnam.

H1N1 can be transmitted from one human to another, but H5N1 can be transmitted from an animal to human.

While there are no cases of death due to H1N1 last year, the new strain is another matter. The mutant H5N1 has a 60% mortality rate. This means 6 out of 10 patients die of the disease.

Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the DOH National Epidemiology Center, said 8 persons in Cambodia who were infected with the bird flu virus have died.

Lee Suy stressed the Philippines is still free of any bird flu cases. The country has banned the importation of livestock that are coming from countries with bird flu cases.

He said, however, that the threat is still there since there is a possibility for the smuggled livestock to enter the country.

Tayag also said migratory birds usually come in October.

He also warned those who own a poultry to take extra precaution because of the animal to human transmission of the disease “Pwedeng mahawa yung mga pumapatay ng hayop, nag-aalaga ng hayop at nagtatanggal ng balahibo, dahil droplets ang virus na ito.”

Some of the symptoms of H5N1 are cough, colds and fever. In severe cases, the lungs are affected and if not treated early, it can lead to death.

The Philippine Inter-agency Committee on Zoonoses, which includes the DOH, The Bureau of Animal Industry and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, will meet on Friday to discuss the matter.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/31/11/doh-new-bird-flu-strain-deadlier

August 31, 2011
Malaysia brushes off bird flu warning
MALAYSIA has brushed off a warning by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) about a resurgence of the deadly bird flu virus and a new mutant strain.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai was quoted in the New Straits Times today as saying that the country remained vigilant about the H5N1 virus but no new cases had been reported.

"The public should not worry. We will let them know about the latest developments on the virus," he was quoted as saying.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

30 August 2011 -- WHO closely monitors the evolution of influenza viruses and is aware of recent reports of an H5N1 virus (described as H5N1 clade 2.3.2.1) circulating in poultry in parts of Asia. Based on available information, this evolution of the H5N1 virus poses no increased risk to public health. It is not considered unusual because influenza viruses are constantly evolving, especially in areas where they circulate regularly in poultry.

The WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, the group of experts that studies animal and human influenza viruses that may impact human health, recognized this new clade in February 2011.

WHO also routinely assesses the public health risk from all animal influenza viruses. Based on available information, the identification of this newly-reported H5N1 virus clade does not change the current public health implications of the H5N1 avian influenza viruses for humans. Human cases of H5N1 infection remain rare and sporadic events, occurring mostly in areas where H5N1 viruses circulate regularly in poultry. Human cases could occur wherever the viruses are present in poultry and when humans might be exposed to infected birds or contaminated environments.

Hungary's pharmaceutical laboratories (on) developed and produced to fight avian influenza H5N1 virus vaccine, but the variation of the virus has appeared, the original vaccine is effective remains to be seen. To prevent the spread of bird flu, South Korea, a large number of poultry slaughtered (down).

Headquartered in Rome, FAO issued a statement on August 29 said, any mutation of avian influenza H5N1 virus is being spread in Asia and other places, there may be a serious threat to human health.

Transmission of the virus and the migratory birds

FAO chief veterinary officer rubles Ross pointed out that China and Vietnam the situation deserves attention. Vietnam this spring to stop the vaccination of chickens, has been found in north-central Vietnam, the H5N1 virus variant.... ...Ferrari World Health Organization officials in the reporter's telephone interview, said that the current understanding of the situation is that in parts of China and Vietnam has found out that the variation of the virus. As the virus mutate to the original vaccine is still effective, it needs to continue to observe. He believes that China's size and the large number of poultry from bird flu, the Chinese Government attaches great importance. He suggested that the emerging variant virus, should be highly concerned about China..

Prevention and control of the full deployment of China

China's chief veterinarian at the state health shock in the interview with this reporter, said that China has taken note of the Ministry of Agriculture officials on the recent FAO global avian influenza situation and China issued a warning. China has always attached great importance to highly pathogenic avian influenza prevention and control. Through these efforts, the Mainland of China bird flu in poultry epidemic intensity significantly decreased, significantly reduced the frequency of onset, significantly reduced the incidence of the scope of the epidemic is declining.

According to reports from the monitoring results, there are wild birds infected in China phenomenon, in poultry in some areas also detected the virus, the avian flu virus-contaminated surface is still very wide, the phenomenon of virus mutation.However, in autumn and winter, large-scale outbreaks in mainland China are less likely, but the point of the epidemic in some areas like distribution, sustained multiple risk remains significant, regional epidemic prevention task is arduous.

Kang Zhenjiang tune in for the current avian influenza situation, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture has made prevention and control work on the autumn and winter full deployment. He said that on the domestic variant strain of bird flu detected the problem, the Ministry of Agriculture has asked the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory and other units continue to follow closely, increased scientific research, strengthen surveillance, prevention and control technologies and reagents to do research work.

..Health authorities aren't sure how the new strain will impact the upcoming flu season, but they aren't taking any chances. When the World Health Organization's influenza experts met in February to decide on the strains to include in the upcoming seasonal flu shot, they also selected virus strains that wouldn't be part of this year's vaccine but should be stockpiled in case of an outbreak. And they selected an H5N1 version of the same clade as the mutant strain now circulating among the birds in China and Viet Nam. That means that the virus is ready to go for testing and development into a vaccine should it suddenly emerge as a problem among people.

From here last year will not keep up production of vaccines against new variants of the virus causing avian influenza H5N1 (H5N1 - 2.3.2.1) and thus the U.S. needs to focus maximum resources to minimize the risk infection from the movement of poultry, especially in border provinces.It is the opinion of the Office of the UN Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) in Vietnam.
Youth has an interview with Mr. John Weaver, Chief Advisor of the FAO office in Vietnam on the issue.

Advisor of the Office of FAO John Weaver

Biggest concern for the H5N1 virus-2.3.2.1 What, sir?

That means the vaccine is not strong enough to resist the new viruses. The reason is that the antigens of the new virus has changed - literally as antibodies produced by the vaccine is no longer able to recognize the "face" of the new virus.

How long to make a vaccine against the new virus?

Using the methods of modern molecular manipulation will help the rapid development of new vaccines appropriate. However, the production and testing of vaccines need a certain time period. I'm afraid to go to next year we can use this new vaccine.

What are the main sources of infection and need to do to reduce this risk?
The preventive measures should focus on limiting the maximum virus spread to both poultry and humans. The path to the virus can spread from bird to bird. Fertilizer, feathers, the transportation and clothing as well as the way to spread viruses.

"The preventive measures should focus on limiting the maximum virus spread to both poultry and humans"
Ducks, chickens and risk is the main source of infection. It is remarkable when infected, they do not have the clinical manifestations and therefore could not be detected. The key when dealing with bird flu in Vietnam is the lack of hygiene and biosecurity on farms, from the purchase of poultry at markets, as well as the slaughterhouses. Need to promote improved processing and trade of poultry.

He recommends that those people directly involved in the process of breeding, slaughter and movement of poultry?

Absolutely isolated birds are breeding with people living in the same area. Upon entering the poultry sector, needs to be replaced immediately shoes, wear protective clothing and hand washing. Not for the purchase of poultry breeding areas into it. No delivery conducted in animal feed and poultry sector. Buy only the native birds and clear origin and separated them in two weeks to ensure they are completely healthy. Report immediately to authorities when birds died or have signs of abnormal health.

For buyers of poultry at markets and slaughterhouses, always wash your body and spray disinfectant.

Mr. Van Register - Head of Epidemiology (Department of Animal Health, MARD) - 8.30 pm for the flu virus in poultry in northern provinces has variations. Phu Tho has found the H5N1 virus - 2.3.2 branch B (FAO called H5N1 virus - 2.3.2.1), the virus appeared in Vietnam. Previously, scientists had identified the virus in poultry in the north. According to States, the new virus has been identified as highly virulent than the virus before. The Veterinary Department is to test the ability of antibodies of the vaccine produced by the U.S., if the meet will be used for mass vaccination.

Quang Duan

Vietnam has not recorded a variant of the H5N1 influenza virus in humans

Prior information about the bird flu virus H5N1 mutating, Wednesday 30/08, Deputy Health Minister Trinh Quan Huan said repeatedly over the years, scientists in the country is the study of the variability of this virus but have not been convincing evidence that the H5N1 virus in humans has been transformed into a new strain. At this point, the U.S. had not received official information from the World Health Organization confirmed the H5N1 influenza virus in humans in Vietnam has changed.